Vorden, Kranenburg

De Keuken van Hackfort is all about 'Pure Delight': enjoying all the good things from the Achterhoek in their purest form. In cooperation with De Keuken van Hackfort, we created four Pure Delight cycle routes. The routes take you to places where you can experience and taste the Achterhoek. Vorden and its surroundings are known for their many castles. De Keuken van Hackfort is also located next to Hackfort Castle. As a former coach house of Kasteel Hackfort, a cycle route with castles should therefore not be missed!

Hackfort Castle was built in 1392 amidst a vast estate. The former house was replaced in that year by a fortified house with a tower and moat commissioned by Landdrost Gerrit van Hackfort. In its centuries-long history, the castle has been extended, rebuilt or rebuilt at least eight times, for example when the Spanish troops army, plundered and destroyed it during the Eighty Years' War. The last modification was in 1788. During this rebuilding, the gatehouse and other outbuildings were demolished and the moat was closed. The towers remained intact. On the estate, you can still find a beautiful historic water mill that used to belong to the castle. The coach house was also built to replace a predecessor, which was in 1881. The building held many functions: it was a horse stable, orangery, carriage shed and gardener's house. And nowadays, therefore, a brasserie where you can enjoy a delicious meal!

You soon pass two castle houses: Den Bramel and Het Enzerinck. Both castles are already mentioned in 14th-century deeds, but both were rebuilt in the 18th century to their current properties. At Den Bramel Castle, the forecourt features a dome built from parts of a church organ. Het Enzerinck also has a musical element: in fact, the middle part of the house is an oval music room, which can be recognised from the outside. If you look at the former residents of Het Enzerinck, you will see the Staring family passing by. This was an influential family, especially the romantic poet A.C.W. Staring (1767-1840) meant a lot to this region.

Cycle past the lovely farmlands and wooded areas along the junctions. Between junctions 51 and 57, you can deviate a little from the route to end up at De Wildenborch. This country estate used to be inhabited by the poet Staring. The oldest mention of the house is from 1371, but the current house consists of an 18th-century residence with a wide, round castle tower, side wings and a building with a coach house attached. Surrounding the stately building is a beautiful garden with water features and a park forest open to walkers. The English landscape gardens are private, but are opened once a year on Open Garden Days.

The castles can only be admired from the outside. However, the estates are accessible to walkers and cyclists and are well worth a visit. A recommendation on the Enzerinck estate is 'Grandfather's cottage'. This little house was built by the estate owner in 1920 for his grandchildren and is great fun to admire, especially with children!

Finally, you pass Vorden Castle, a 12th-century castle and thus the oldest in this list. You can visit this castle five days a week. From the outside, the stepped gables and wide moat are a picture-perfect sight, so you can only get to the castle entrance by bridge. Once inside, it is a maze of rooms, towers, secret passages and cellar vaults. The rooms are all authentically decorated with antique furniture, paintings, beautiful sculptures, porcelain and works of art. At the back of the castle, you enter a beautiful garden, stylishly decorated with various trees, hedges, flowers and lawns.

Through wooded countryside, you automatically return to the Hackfort estate where, while enjoying a snack and a drink, you can reflect on all the impressions of the rich history of Vorden and its surroundings.